Armour  Institute 

Librsa^r* 

- 

Chicago,  111 


PROCEEDINGS 


AT  THE 


DEDICATION 


OF  THE 


LA  CROSSE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY, 


November  20,  1888. 


LA  CROSSE,  WISCONSIN, 


DEDICATION 


OF  THE 


LA  CROSSE  PUBLIC'  LIBRARY, 


LA  CROSSE,  WIS. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/proceedingsatdedOOIacr 


02.1, I't- 


9 

rf3 


PROCEEDINGS 


AT  THE 


DEDICATION 


OF  THE 


LA  CROSSE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY, 


LA  CROSSE,  WISCONSIN, 

NOVEMBER  20,  1888. 


W.  J.  BOYCOTT,  Printer. 


ORDER  OP  CXERGISES. 


Sallijmg  the  Meeting  to-Order, 

B Y MA  YOR  DA  VID  A US  TIN , 

Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

Overture, 

B V TIPPMANN’S  ORCHESTRA. 

Prayer. 

BY  REV.  S.  IV.  HORNER. 

, Duet, 

B Y MISS  LINCOLN  AND  MISS  GRA  CE  MEDAR  Y. 


Report  of  the  Building  Cojvjviittee. 

BY  JOSEPH  CLARKE. 
Trustee. 

y\D  DRESS. 

BY  HON.  BENJ.  F.  BRYANT. 

PijANO  Solo. 

B Y MRS.  S.  IV.  HORNER. 


Address. 

BY  PROF.  ALBERT  HARDY. 

Solo. 

MISS  LINCOLN , 

with  Violin  Accompaniment  by  Miss  Fanny  Losey. 

Presentation  Address. 

BY  G.  VAN  STEEN  IV  YK, 

Vice  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

jAcceptjAjmce  of  the  use  of  the  Library  for  the  People. 
B V THE  MA  YOR. 


BENEDISTION. 

BY  REV.  DR.  THOMAS. 


A.  D.  1888. 

THE 

TRUSTEES  OF  THE  LA  CROSSE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

Have  Caused  This  Tablet  to  Be  Inscribed  to  the 
Memory  of  Its  Founder, 

CADWALLADER  C.  WASHBURN, 

Who  Bequeathed  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Thousand 
Dollars  for  the  Establishment  and 

Maintainance  of  This  Library; 

Also  as  a Memento  of  the 

YOUNG  MEN’S  LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION, 

Which  Closed  a Long  Career  of  Usefulness  by 
Donating  Seven  Thousand  Dollars  to 

Aid  in  the  Erection  of  This  Building. 

Memorial  Tablet  in  the  Library. 


DEDICATORY  EXERCISES. 


The  La  Crosse  Public  Library  was  formally  opened  and 
dedicated  to  the  public,  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1888.  The  exercises  were  held  in  Library  Hall  and 
attended  by  as  large  an  audience  as  could  be  accommodated, 
while  during  the  evening  a still  larger  number  inspected  the 
book  room  and  various  other  apartments. 

His  Honor  Mayor  David  Austin  in  opening  the  exercises, 
said: 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  We  have  met  upon  this  occasion 
to  dedicate  this  beautiful  structure,  founded  by  the  munif- 
icence of  one  of  your  most  distinguished  fellow  citizens.  Your 
presence  is  an  assurance  of  the  deep  interest  taken  in  this 
important  public  institution  which  I trust  will  equal  your 
highest  expectations  as  a means  of  promoting  education.  You 
will  now  give  attention  to  the  exercises. 


REPORT  OF  THE  BUILDING  COMMITTEE. 


BY  JOSEPH  CLARKE. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  The  committee  appointed  to  ar- 
range the  exercises  of  dedication,  thought  it  would  be  proper 
and  appropriate  that  some  information  should  be  given  you 
this  evening  on  behalf  of  the  trustees  regarding  the  construc- 
tion of  this  beautiful  library  building. 

It  is  doubtless  known  to  most  of  you,  that  the  $50,000  be- 
queathed by  Governor  Washburn  to  establish  and  maintain  a 
Public  Library  in  this  city,  was  divided  into  three  distinct 
parts  or  funds,  $12,500  being  set  aside  for  the  purchase  of 
suitable  grounds  and  the  erection  of  a library  building ; a 
sum  not  exceeding  $17,500  was  to  be  used  in  the  purchase  of 
books,  and  the  remainder  of  the  bequest  unexpended  at  the 
expiration  of  two  years  from  the  completion  of  the  building, 
was  to  constitute  an  investment  or  revenue  fund.  As  before 
stated,  the  fund  for  grounds  and  building  was  $12,500,  and 
the  trustees  were  prohibited  under  severe  penalties  from  ex- 
pending any  more  of  the  bequest  for  this  object  than  the 
sum  set  aside  for  that  purpose.  It  had,  however,  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  trustees,  through  Governor  Washburn’s 
long-time  intimate  friend,  GeneralVanSteenwyk,that  the  Gov- 
ernor, after  executing  his  will,  had  decided  that  the  amount 
he  had  directed  to  be  expended  for  grounds  and  building, 
would  not  be  sufficient  to  secure  such  grounds  and  erect  such 


10 

an  edifice  at  La  Crosse  as  he  desired,  and  it  was  his  intention 
to  add  to  the  building  fund  on  his  next  visit  to  this  city;  but 
the  hand  of  death  was  laid  upon  him  before  that  visit  could 
be  made.  The  Trustees  therefore  had  to  face  the  fact  that 
•112,500  was  the  maximum  amount  that  could  be  taken  from 
the  150,000  fund  for  grounds  and  building,  with  the  imposi- 
tion of  penalties  should  they  disobey  instructions;  at  the 
same  time  they  had  a strong  desire  to  erect  such  a building 
as  Governor  Washburn  wished  and  would  have  provided  for 
had  his  life  been  spared  a little  longer;  but  as  the  terms  of  the 
will  could  not  be  departed  from,  the  trustees  could  only  re- 
solve to  do  the  very  best  that  could  possibly  be  done  with  the 
means  at  their  disposal.  At  this  juncture,  the  Young  Men’s 
Library  Association,  which  for  nearly  twenty  years  had  main- 
tained a most  creditable  library  in  this  city,  came  forward 
with  a proposition  from  its  Board  of  Directors,  in  which  they 
offered  to  sell  all  the  books  and  outfit  of  the  Y.  M.  L.  A.  to 
the  Public  Library  for  the  sum  of  $5,000,  agreeing  to  add  to 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  the  sum  of  $2,000  then  in  its  treasury, 
which  sum  had  been  accumulating  slowly  year  by  year  for 
fifteen  years  and  was  regarded  by  its  members  as  the  nucleus 
of  a building  fund  of  their  own.  This  total  sum  of  $7,000  it 
now  proposed  to  donate  to  the  La  Crosse  Public  Library  to 
be  added  to  its  building  fund,  increasing  said  fund  from  $12- 
500  to  a total  of  $19,500  available  for  grounds  and  building. 

The  proposition  having  been  approved  and  ratified  by  both 
the  life  and  annual  members  of  the  association,  was  gladly 
and  thankfully  accepted  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Libra- 
ry who  now  felt  they  would  have  the  means  to  construct  such 
a building  as  would  suit  the  present  wants  and  future  needs 
of  the  growing  city  of  La  Crosse,  one  that  would  do  credit  to 
the  generous  donors  and  be  the  pride  of  all  our  citizens. 

The  first  work  of  the  building  committee  was  to  prepare 
and  mail  1,000  circular  letters  to  the  libraries  of  the  country 


11 


asking  for  such  information  as  would  aid  them  in  securing 
for  LaCrosse  the  very  best  building  that  could  be  erected  for 
the  money  at  the  command  of  the  trustees.  Then  the  two  lots 
upon  which  the  library  building  now  stands,  with  the  two 
frame  dwellings  then  upon  them,  were  purchased  for  the  sum 
of  $6,500.  A thirty  foot  strip  of  land  adjoining  on  the 
south  was  bought  for  $2,000.  Next,  the  two  dwellings  were 
moved  and  fitted  for  tenants  at  an  expense  of  $2,000.  This 
made  a total  expenditure  of  $10,700.  As  the  two  dwellings 
would  readily  rent  for  such  sum  as  would  pay  an  annual  in- 
come of  six  per  cent,  on  the  principal  sum  of  $10,000,  the 
trustees  thought  proper  to  charge  that  amount  to  investment 
account  as  the  value  of  the  dwellings  and  ground  upon  which 
they  stood  for  income  purposes.  This  left  the  building  site 
of  about  100  feet  square  as  a debit  to  the  building  fund  in 
the  sum  of  $700  only,  which  amount  deducted  from  the  ag- 
gregate sum  of  $19,500  left  $18,800  at  the  disposal  of  the 
trustees  for  the  building  and  its  equipment. 

Plans  of  many  of  the  noted  libraries  of  the  country  and  a 
number  of  sketches  submitted  by  different  architects,  were  ex- 
amined and  passed  upon  by  the  trustees,  the  plans  of  the 
present  building,  as  submitted  by  Mr.  C.  0.  Yost  of  Minne- 
apolis being  finally  approved  and  accepted.  The  contract  for 
the  erection  of  the  building  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Davis, 
Sorenson  & Go.,  the  brick  and  terra  cotta  work  being  done  by 
sub-contractor  Mr.  J.  E.  Rawlinson,  and  the  painting  by  Mr. 
Christian  Nelson.  The  furnaces  were  furnished  by  Messrs. 
Dittman  & Jorstad,  and  the  plumbing  and  piping  by  the  W. 
A.Koosevelt  Co.  The  construction  was  under  the  supervision 
of  Mr.  Gustave  Stolze,  architect  of  this  city.  The  total  cost  of 
the  site  and  building  furnished  and  equipped  ready  for  use, 
including  the  bronze  memorial  tablet,  the  lawn,  sidewalks, 
etc.,  is  inside  the  sum  of  $19,500,  leaving  a small  balance  un- 
expended to  the  credit  of  the  grounds  and  building  fund. 


12 

In  connection  with  the  work  of  construction  it  will  not  be 
inappropriate  at  this  time  to  say  something  in  reference  to 
the  ways  and  means  of  enlarging  the  library  building  at  some 
future  time.  Under  the  terms  of  the  bequest,  no  additions 
can  be  made  daring  the  first  ten  years,  and  the  trustees  are 
of  the  opinion  that  none  will  be  necessary;  but  the  pres- 
ent building  has  been  so  constructed  that  at  the  expiration  of 
ten  years,  the  book  room  which  now  has  a capacity  of  20,000 
volumes,  can  be  extended  thirty  feet,  by  moving  off  the 
dwelling  on  the  south,  increasing  the  capacity  of  the  book 
room  to  30,000  volumes;  or  an  extension  can  be  made  of  the 
reference  room,  small  reading  room  and  assembly  hall  by 
moving  off  the  dwelling  on  the  east,  Governor  Washburn 
having  made  provision  for  future  enlargements  from  the 
accumulations  of  the  investment  fund. 

Although  not  in  the  line  of  construction,  it  has  been  sug- 
gested that  a few  words  regarding  the  investment  fund  and 
operating  expenses  of  the  library  may  not  be  out  of  place  at 
this  time.  In  addition  to  the  $50,000  received  from  Governor 
Washburn’s  executors,  the  trustees  have  received  from  rents 
and  interest  on  loans  the  sum  of  $3,000,  which  with  the  $7,000 
donated  by  the  Y.  M.  L.  A.  makes  the  total  amount  received 
in  all  up  to  date,  $60,000.  The  total  amount  paid  for  site 
and  building  will  be  $19,500.  For  books  about  $10,500,  which 
will  leave  a balance  of  $30,000  in  the  investment  fund.  This 
fund  it  is  estimated  will  earn  the  library  a net  income  of 
from  $1,800  to  $2,000  per  annum.  Under  the  terms  of  the  be- 
quest, one  half  of  the  income  must  be  added  to  the  principal 
annually  for  the  first  ten  years;  the  other  half  is  to  be  used 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  library.  After  ten  years  only  one- 
fourth  part  of  the  income  is  to  be  added  to  the  principal  and 
the  remaining  three-fourths  may  be  used  for  current  expenses. 

The  estimated  expense  of  maintaining  the  library,  keeping 
same  open  every  afternoon  and  evening,  is  $2,000  per  annum, 
as  follows: 


13 


Salary  of  Librarian  and  Assistant $720.00. 

Salary  of  Janitor 200.00. 

Fuel  $300,  Lights  $200 __  500.00. 

Insurance 100.00. 

Magazines 50.00. 

Rebinding  Books 200.00. 

New  Books  and  Incidentals 230.00. 


Making  a total  of $2,000.00. 


From  this  exhibit  it  will  be  seen  that  the  one  half  of  the  an- 
nual income  at  the  disposal  of  the  trustees  for  current  expenses 
for  the  first  ten  years  will  be  from  $900  to  $1,000  per  annum, 
or  only  about  one  half  the  amount  required.  It  must  there- 
fore be  apparent  to  all  that  the  other  $1,000  needed  to  sus- 
tain the  library,  and  keep  it  free,  must  be  provided  from 
some  other  source  until  that  part  of  the  annual  income  set 
aside  for  the  purpose  shall  be  sufficient.  The  Common 
Council,  in  accordance  with  authority  given  them  by  the  city 
charter,  have  already  kindly  made  an  appropriation  extend- 
ing to  December  31,  1888,  at  the  bate  of  $1 ,000  per  annum  to 
aid  in  maintaining  the  library,  and  it  is  confidently  hoped  a 
continuation  of  this  aid  will  be  extended  as  long  as  there 
shall  be  a necessity  for  it,  particularly  as  the  library  is  free 
to  every  resident  of  the  city  over  fourteen  years  of  age. 

The  trustees  are  only  interested  as  trustees  and  public 
servants  in  the  management  of  a trust  created  by  the  gener- 
osity of  Governor  Washburn  for  the  benefit  of  every  man,  wo- 
man and  child  in  the  city  of  La  Crosse, and  in  this  matter  their 
only  desire  is  that  they  may  have  the  means  to  operate  the 
library  to  the  satisfaction,  and  for  the  greatest  good  of  their 
fellow  citizens. 


ADDRESS. 


BY  HON.  B.  F.  BRYANT. 

It  would  have  been  gratifying  to  all  of  us,  had  fate  per- 
mitted it,  to  have  seen  the  beneficent  founder  of  this  public 
library  sitting  with  us  here  to-night,  and  to  have  been  wit- 
nesses while  he  formally  presented  to  our  people  the  gift 
which  he  had  generously  provided  for  them.  But  although 
we  are  denied  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  from  him  person- 
ally, on  behalf  of  our  people,  this  substantial  token  of  re- 
membrance and  regard,  there  yet  remains  both  the  gratifica- 
tion and  the  pleasure  of  standing  by  while  the  almoners  of 
his  bequest  throw  open  the  doors,  and  in  his  name  bid  the 
public  a hearty  welcome  to  their  inheritance.  Long  may  it 
survive  as  a monument  to  his  generosity  and  interest  in  our 
welfare,  and  as  an  ornament  to  our  city. 

It  marks  an  era  in  any  town  when  a public  library  is  es- 
tablished there.  If  it  comes,  as  such  institutions  usually  do, 
as  the  gift  of  a wealthy  citizen  who  takes  this  way  of  showing 
his  love  for  his  home,  and  for  the  place  where  fortune  poured 
her  bounties  into  his  lap;  or  if  it  comes  through  the  yearning 
of  the  people  for  the  fountains  of  knowledge  and  culture,  and 
by  their  united  efforts,  it  indicates  maturity  and  advance- 
ment, and  the  presence  of  forces  which  are  sure  to  elevate 
and  enlighten. 

Much  as  men  individually  value  property  and  material 
prosperity,  collectively  they  place  a higher  value  upon  the 
things  which  educate  the  public  in  knowledge  and  taste,  and 
they  feel,  and  by  their  acts  if  not  their  words,  confess  that 


15 


it  is  nobler,  after  all,  to  furnish  the  means  of  intellectual  and 
aesthetic  training  and  culture  than  to  pile  up  fortunes. 

If  one  have  a longing,  a noble  ambition  to  make  a resting 
place  for  his  name,  that  it  may  not  perish  when  he  is  dead, 
let  him  connect  it  as  Cadwallader  C.  Washburn  has  done,  with 
a public  charity  which  will  survive  longer  than  the  massive 
granite  monument  which  stands  by  his  grave.  The  sentiment 
of  gratitude  is  deeply  imbedded  in  the  nature  of  man.  Both 
those  who  are  the  recipients  of  other  men’s  bounteous  gifts, 
and  all  those  who  come  to  know  of  such  worthy  and 
generous  actions,  cherish  and  thereby  perpetuate  the  remem- 
brance of  the  gift  and  the  name  of  the  giver.  And  when  the 
gift  is  embodied  in  permanent  form  by  having  material  shape 
and  location,  there  is  a pledge  of  long  lasting.  It  is  not 
evanescent;  it  does  not  easily  vanish  from  men’s  eyes  or 
memories.  How  much  more  is  this  true  when  it  becomes  the 
treasure  house  of  the  world’s  literature,  the  most  immortal  of 
earthly  things! 

Rejoicing  now  in  our  good  fortune,  it  is  but  natural  that  we 
should  examine  and  estimate  the  value  of  the  gift.  I do  not 
mean  exactly  that  we  should  take  an  inventory  of  the  prop- 
erty and  seek  to  learn  its  value  in  money;  but  that,  while  we 
feel  and  express  our  joy  at  coming  into  possession  of  a for- 
tune, we  should  permit  our  thoughts  to  dwell  upon  its  advan- 
tages and  its  capacity  for  usefulness.  The  library  is  the 
treasury  of  knowledge,  the  permanent  resting  place  of  all  the 
useful  information  which  is  embodied  in  books  Public  li- 
braries are  not  educators  in  the  same  sense  in  which  schools 
are;  and  yet  their  influence  runs  in  that  direction.  They  are 
like  schools,  stimulants  to  knowledge,  and  their  proper  use 
may  supplement  the  training  which  schools  impart. 

The  education  which  any  one  receives  at  school  as  the 
foundation  of  life’s  work  is  after  all,  nothing  but  a foundation. 
The  most  extensive  acquirements  of  the  longest  course  of  stu- 


16 


dent  life,  bear  but  a small  proportion  to  what  is  usually  learn- 
ed after  leaving  school.  And  this  is  especially  true  of  such 
as  are  denied  the  advantages  of  any  superior  education. 

The  young  man  and  young  woman  on  leaving  school,  have 
the  whole  of  life  before  them  in  which  to  supplement  school 
training  and  repair  deficiencies.  To  the  mass  of  people  who 
have  the  heart  to  make  up  for  deficiencies  in  early  education, 
there  is  no  opportunity,  or  at  least  none  which  can  be  used 
to  such  advantage  as  a free  public  library.  And  for  such 
persons  it  is  both  a stimulant  and  a means.  It  beckons  one 
to  enter,  and  also  supplies  the  opportunities  for  advancement 

AVe  have  thus  far  considered  the  question  of  the  usefulness 
of  a public  library  in  its  relation  to  the  acquisition  of  knowl- 
edge. There  is,  however,  another  side  to  the  question,  which 
if  not  of  equal  importance,  is  still  of  very  great  importance 
indeed.  Some  people  make  use  of  its  opportunities,  princi- 
pally as  a pastime,  as  means  of  pleasure  and  recreation.  They 
read  the  books  they  select  there  because  they  furnish  a cer- 
tain sort  of  enjoyment  which  cannot  be  derived  from  any 
other  source.  And  indeed  every  one,  the  learned  along  with 
the  unlearned,  would  be  entirely  unwilling  to  lay  out  of  ac- 
count the  nameless  joy  there  is  to  be  found  in  works  of  taste 
and  imagination,  of  wit  and  humor. 

This  demand  of  our  natures  is  taken  into  account  by  those 
who  are  intrusted  with  the  selection  of  books  for  public  li- 
braries, and  few  persons  have  any  cause  of  complaint  that 
the  books  which  minister  to  such  enjoyment,  are  not  furnish- 
ed with  reasonable  liberality.  It  is  not  for  me  to  say  now  in 
what  proportion  the  substantial  books,  and  the  works  of  light 
literature  and  belles  lettres  should  be  mingled.  I recognize 
the  presence  of  a demand  of  our  being  which  will  not  be 
curbed,  the  gratification  of  which  it  is  impossible  to  deny, 
and  which  at  best  can  only  be  pruned  and  directed. 

We  devote  our  lives  in  many  ways  and  to  a considerable 


17 


extent  to  the  pursuit  of  pleasure;  we  should  otherwise  con- 
sider them  ill-spent;  and  since  books  claim  so  large  a share  of 
our  time  and  attention,  it  is  in  keeping  with  our  conduct  in 
other  things  for  us,  in  the  use  of  books,  to  cultivate  and  in- 
dulge the  fairer  and  more  graceful  side  of  our  natures. 

Certainly  the  worth  of  public  libraries,  and  the  benefits  to 
be  derived  from  them  consist  in  a very  large  measure  in 
bringing  within  the  reach  of  every  one  the  readable  books 
of  taste  and  imagination  which  are  to  be  found  in  all  culti- 
vated languages. 

A public  library  must  from  necessity  be  a compromise.  In 
selecting  the  books  which  are  to  be  placed  on  its  shelves,  a 
proper  deference  ought  to  be  shown  to  the  tastes  of 
those  who  are  likely  to  seek  its  benefits.  It  would  hardly  be 
expected,  however,  that  all  persons,  especially  the  learned, 
and  those  who  devote  themselves  to  special  studies,  or  to 
amassing  information  on  special  subjects,  would  be  able  to 
fiud  there  every  book  they  might  desire  to  read.  But  I should 
consider  that  a serious  error  had  been  committed,  unless  the 
great  master  pieces  of  all  European  languages,  ancient  and 
modern,  were  included  in  the  selection.  Those  which  wrere 
not  written  in  English  should  of  course,  appear  in  transla- 
tions. They  are  comparatively  few  and  reasonably  cheap.  In 
experience  in  the  use  of  the  library,  they  would  never  be 
found  in  the  swift  flowing  current.  The  masses  would  pass 
them  by,  and  they  would  rest  quietly  in  their  own  alcoves. 
But  they  would  not  remain  there  unused.  The  thoughtful 
of  mature  years  would  seek  them  out,  The  educated  would 
renew  there  the  loves  of  student  life,  and  many  a youth  who 
had  been  denied  the  aid  of  a liberal  education  would  in  this 
way,  make  his  acquaintance  with  the  writings  of  the  great  im- 
mortals, who  otherwise  would  rest  in  ignorance  of  their  con- 
tents, uninspired  and  unmoved  by  their  lofty  thoughts  and 
their  matchless  art.  The  great  masterpieces  of  the  ancient 


18 

languages  have  survived  all  the  mutations  of  time.  They 
have  continued,  since  they  were  written,  to  hold  their  way  in 
the  onward  march  of  the  world  with  undiminished  force. 
Each  new  generation  has  supplied  them  with  companions  on 
their  journey,  which,  with  few  exceptions,  have  successively 
fallen  out  and  perished  like  lost  stars,  while  they  have  re- 
mained in  their  pristine  life  and  vigor.  They  survive  because 
they  are  worthy  to  live.  They  embody  thoughts,  imagery, 
form  and  expression  which  have  made  them  the  admiration 
and  despair  of  all  scholars  and  writers. 

I have  not  the  time  even  if  I had  the  inclination  to  treat 
with  thoroughness  the  general  subject  of  the  proportion  in 
which  books  of  various  classes  ought  to  be  chosen.  But  I 
cannot  refrain  from  dwelling  briefly  on  one  department  or 
class  of  books  which  I think  we  ought  to  aim  at  making  more 
complete  than  they  are  usually  found  to  be  in  public  libra^ 
ries.  I desire  to  urge  that  care  should  be  observed  to  bring 
into  prominence  the  permanent  works  of  American  authors.  I 
do  not  insist  on  this  for  the  purpose  of  supplanting  the  writ- 
ings of  foreign  authors.  We  are  beholden  to  them  and  more 
particularly  to  English  writers  in  our  selection  of  books.  A 
twofold  purpose  is  to  be  subserved  by  this  course.  It  is  de- 
sirable and  quite  necessary  to  our  well-being  as  a people  that 
the  young  should  be  correctly  taught  and  well  informed  in 
everything  relating  to  American  history.  We  may  trust  that 
American  life  will  inspire  them  with  a proper  love  of  country, 
but  it  is  necessary  also,  that  the  true  spirit  in  which  our  na- 
tion was  founded,  and  which  is  breathed  through  all  the  writ- 
ings of  the  American  fathers,  should  inspire  the  youth  of  the 
land.  To  this  end  the  truthful  story  of  early  American  his- 
tory as  told  by  American  writers  in  many  detached  books 
ought  to  be  made  accessible,  and  there  should  be  grouped  with 
them  the  speeches  and  political  writings  of  eminent  Ameri- 
cans of  the  past  and  the  early  part  of  the  present  century. 


19 

If  we  consider  wliat  a mine  of  wealth  was  found  in  the 
speeches  of  Daniel  Webster  when  we  were  defending  our  right, 
in  the  domain  of  reason  and  argument,  to  resist  and  over- 
come by  force  every  attempt  to  disrupt  the  union,  we  shall 
more  fully  perceive  the  necessity  of  keeping  within  easy  reach 
the  works  I have  mentioned,  and  of  fortifying  the  intelligence 
and  heart  of  the  young  with  a knowledge  of  what  our  greatest 
and  best  men  have  thought  and  felt  concerning  our  history, 
our  government  and  our  national  life. 

The  other  purpose  to  be  subserved,  relates  to  th  e founda- 
tion of  a distinctively  American  literature. 

We  have  to  concede  as  fair  men  that  we  do  not  possess  a 
literature  which  bears  any  just  and  fair  proportion  to  our 
greatness  in  all  material  things.  I think  I am  within  bounds 
in  saying  that,  excepting  the  political  writings  and  speeches 
of  our  greatest  statesmen  and  orators,  we  have  no  prose  writers 
of  the  first  class,  and  that  we  have  no  poets  even  of  the  sec- 
ond class.  We  must  wait  for  the  men  and  women  to 
come,  the  children  of  genius  and  song,  who  shall  crown  our 
name  and  nation  with  the  unfading  laurels  of  literary  great- 
ness and  fame.  When  they  come  their  methods  and  success 
will  conform  to  the  experience  of  other  nations.  The  mater- 
ials out  of  which  they  will  construct  their  works  will  be  found 
in  the  writings  of  their  own  countrymen,  and  in  the  history 
and  traditions  of  their  own  country. 

England  did  not  possess  a great  literature  before  the  days 
of  Shakespeare.  His  writings  and  the  writings  of  his  time 
were  possible  only  because  laborers  in  the  same  field  had  pre- 
ceded them,  and  because  a distinct  national  tone  and  flavor 
had  permeated  the  writings  of  earlier  English  authors. 

Does  not  every  one  know  that  there  were  no  stars  of  the 
first  magnitude  in  the  German  literary  firmament  until 
Goethe  and  Schiller  appeared,  and  that  the  creation  which 
they  ushered  in  came,  by  applying  their  matchless  genius, 


20 


learning  and  art  to  the  field  of  German  effort  where  earlier 
writers  had  cleared  the  way  for  their  triumphal  advance. 

We  can  never  know,  before  their  coming,  where  the  creators 
of  American  literature  may  appear.  Self  taught  they  may 
arise,  unexpected  and  unheralded  above  the  horizon.  We  are 
sure  to  hasten  their  coming  by  keeping  before  our  youth,  side 
by  side  with  all  good  books,  the  books  which  tell  what  Ameri- 
cans have  done,  and  felt,  and  thought. 


ADDRESS. 


BY  PROFESSOR  ALBERT  HARDY,  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  SCHOOLS. 

Presupposing  free  common  school  education,  the  free  pub- 
lic library,  next  to  the  newspaper,  is  the  most  potent  factor 
in  our  civilization,  the  best  means  of  increasing  the  intelli- 
gence of  our  citizens. 

This  is  also  true  of  the  past.  The  first  real  step  from  bar- 
barism was  made  when  man  began  to  record  his  thoughts  and 
deeds  in  permanent  form  and  to  hand  them  down  to  the  next 
generation.  In  this  way  each  generation  has  inherited  the 
wisdom  of  the  past,  preserved  it,  added  to  it,  and  passed  it 
down. 

Th  us, writing  is  the  conservator  of  knowledge,  has  saved  each 
generation  from  the  painful  toil  of  rediscovering;  has  made 
possible  the  progress  and  improvement  of  the  human  race. 
The  art  of  writing  is  nowT  so  common,  so  common-place,  that 
we  do  not  realize  that  without  it,  the  world  would  still  be 
sunk  in  barbarism. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a nation’s  intelligence,  its 
progress  in  science  and  art,  are  measured  by  its  libraries. 
So  too,  is  its  enterprise  in  discovery,  invention  and  commerce. 

Only  to  a limited  extent  is  “necessity  the  mother  of  inven- 
tion.” The  true  mother  of  invention  is  the  deep,  silent  medi- 
tation of  the  study,  a meditation  begotten  of  the  library,  a 
knowledge  of  the  past. 


22 


The  nation  of  keenest  thinkers  in  all  abstract  and  abstruse 
matters,  is  the  most  progressive,  the  most  inventive,  the  most 
practical  nation.  This  is  true  of  antiquity;  it  is  true  to-day. 
The  Germans,  a nation  of  philosophers,  of  theorists,  of 
dreamers,  are  to-day  first  in  war  and  first  in  the  arts  of  peace. 

They  are  fast  supplanting  the  English  in  the  world’s  mar- 
kets. This  is  the  fruit  of  books,  of  the  library,  of  profound 
thought  and  study,  based  on  a knowledge  of  the  past. 

In  ancient  times  men  massed  in  a few  spots;  thus  Athens 
was  Greece,  Alexandria,  Egypt,  Koine,  the  world.  Then  there 
were  only  a few  great  libraries;  only  the  great,  the  powerful, 
the  rich  were  educated.  The  grand  distinctive  feature  of 
modern  civilization,  is  its  diffusiveness.  Education,  knowl- 
edge, are  not  now  the  heritage  of  the  few,  but  the  privilege  of 
the  many.  This  is  especially  true  of  our  glorious  republic. 
Here  every  city  of  enterprise,  has  a free  public  library,  or 
aims  to  have  one.  Not  the  least  glory  and  pride  of  our  beau- 
tiful city  is  this  free  public  library. 

Having  thus  outlined  briefly  the  importance  of  the  library 
as  an  index  of  a people’s  intelligence,  and  a means  of  its 
progress,  I will  ask  your  consideration  of  the  true  functions 
of  a public  library. 

They  are  two: 

First.  The  conservation  of  knowledge. 

Second.  The  diffusion  of  knowledge. 

Of  the  first  nse  of  a public  library,  viz:  to  preserve  the  ac- 
cumulated knowledge  of  the  past,  I have  already  spoken. 

Only  by  planting  one  foot  firmly  on  the  past,  has  the  other 
been  able  to  reach  forward  and  upward.  Painfully,  step  by 
step  has  the  race  made  progress.  Each  new  experience, 
thought,  discovery  has  been  recorded,  kept  and  handed  down. 
Thus  each  generation  has  been  wiser  than  the  preceding,  the 
children,  than  the  fathers.  With  the  invention  of  printing, 


23 


came  the  age  of  cheap  books,  the  age  of  libraries.  The  world 
has  made  more  progress  since  the  invention  of  printing  than 
in  all  the  ages  before.  The  ease  with  which  knowledge  is 
preserved,  and  diffused  measures  progress. 

This  is  the  age  of  libraries.  This,  the  most  literary  age,  is 
the  most  utilitarian,  is  the  most  active  in  improving  man’s 
material  condition,  in  increasing  the  facilities  and  comforts 
of  daily  life. 

This  age  of  profoundest  study  and  investigation  in  all  the 
fields  of  thought,  is  the  most  practical  age. 

There  are  two  fields  of  investigation,  the  material  universe, 
and  man  himself — the  history  of  his  past  thoughts  and  deeds. 
In  either  field  the  investigator  needs  a collection  of  books 
such  as  only  the  public  library  can  give.  The  scientist,  the 
inventor,  needs  to  know  what  has  been  done  in  the  past  to 
move  surely  forward.  Edison  says  that  his  want  of  educa- 
tion, his  ignorance  of  what  had  been  done  in  electrical  discov- 
ery, caused  him  untold  loss  in  time  and  labor.  But  it  is  in 
political  and  social  science  that  a history  of  the  past,  the  li- 
brary, is  most  useful,  most  necessary.  Never  in  the  history 
of  the  race,  has  investigation  in  its  past  life  and  history  been 
so  active  as  now;  and  with  good  reason.  No  age  has  been  so 
fruitful  of  new  problems;  problems  in  government,  in  eco- 
nomic conditions,  in  social  and  moral  relations,  in  education. 

To  build  surely  and  securely,  we  must  build  on  the  solid 
foundations  of  past  life  and  history.  No  nation  can  cut  loose 
from  its  past,  its  inherited  traits  and  forms  of  life,  any  more 
than  an  individual.  A nation  is  made  up  of  individuals. 
Both  individually  and  collectively,  it  is  an  organism.  It  has 
an  organic  life  and  growth;  as  much  so  as  a plant,  or  an  ani- 
mal. As  such,  as  an  organism,  its  future  life  and  progress, 
depend  on  its  inheritance,  its  past  life  and  history.  To  un- 
derstand the  political,  social  and  moral  tendencies  of  the  age, 
we  must  know  our  past,  what  we  inherit  therefrom.  Here  is 


24 


one  of  the  greatest  values  of  libraries.  Fortunately  the  old 
libraries  are  rich  in  materials  that  throw  light  on  the  past 
and  scholars  are  delving  into  this  “curious  and  forgotten  lore,” 
old  charters  of  towns,  manuscripts,  records,  parish  and  fami- 
ly, even  old  accountbooks,  everything  that  will  throw  light  on 
the  political,  social,  religious  and  economic  life  of  our  an- 
cestors. 

This  well  illustrates  the  first  use  of  a library  to  conserve 
knowledge.  Even  a local  library,  like  ours,  has  a work  to  do 
here.  We  are  a part  of  the  national  life.  To  know  national 
life,  local  life  must  be  studied.  There  is  great  activity  now, 
in  all  parts  of  our  country  as  well  as  in  England  in  the  study 
of  past  local  history,  and  in  collecting  materials  of  the  pres- 
ent life,  customs  and  manners.  The  State  Historical  so- 
ciety is  doing  a great  work  in  its  library.  This  work  needs 
to  be  supplemented  by  local  libraries.  We  build  not  for  a 
day,  but  for  future  time  and  generations. 

Thus  our  library  has  a work  to  perform  in  this  line.  By 
preserving  matters  of  local  interest  and  history,  it  can  serve 
both  the  present  and  the  future  generations.  Some  of  the 
most  valuable  records  of  the  past,  had  once  only  a local  value 
and  importance. 

The  most  important  function,  however,  of  a free  public  li- 
brary, like  ours,  is  the  dissemination  of  knowledge  among  all. 
It  is  the  glory  of  our  age  and  of  our  free  land  to  make  educa- 
tion and  knowledge  free  to  all ; here,  knowledge  knows  no 
caste,  or  rank,  no  creed,  no  sect,  no  party,  color  or  condition 
of  men.  The  rich  and  the  poor,  the  man  of  leisure  and  the 
toiler,  the  educated  and  the  ignorant,  are  alike  welcomed  here. 
To  meet  the  needs,  wants,  and  tastes  of  all  kinds  and  condi- 
tions of  men,  is  this  library’s  aim. 

To  serve  its  true  purpose  a library  must  cover  the  whole 
field  of  human  knowledge.  This  is  not  saying  that  a library 
must  contain  all  there  is  written  on  a subject;  no  library  can 


25 


do  that.  But  it  should  contain  the  best  books  on  the  subject, 
so  that  no  one,  no  matter  how  special  his  calling,  his  needs  or 
taste,  shall  go  away  empty.  This  has  been  the  aim  of  the 
trustees  and  the  book  committee  of  this  library.  Of  the  aims 
of  the  committee  I can  “speak  as  one  having  authority.”  How 
far  the  aims  have  been  accomplished,  time  and  experience  on- 
ly can  prove. 

I will  now  venture  a word  as  to  how  a library  may  be  made 
most  useful  to  the  community  as  a public  educator.  Lord 
Bacon  says,  “books  teach  not  their  own  use.”  It  is  the  ex- 
perience of  those  quite  familiar  with  books  and  their  use,  that 
instruction  and  guidance  are  of  the  greatest  service.  While 
much  general  intelligence  may  be  the  result  of  indiscriminate 
“browsing”  among  books,  still,  to  be  truly  valuable,  a library 
must  be  supplemented  by  special  aids. 

Experience  has  shown  that  popular  lectures  covering  the 
various  fields  of  knowledge  with  reference  to  the  authorities 
on  those  subjects,  and  the  special  books  thereon,  are  almost 
indispensable.  Short  printed  outlines  of  courses  of  reading 
with  the  titles  of  books  are  most  helpful. 

Lastly,  the  free  public  library  may  be  made  a most  efficient 
and  valuable  aid  and  supplement  to  public  school  educa- 
tion. The  young,  especially  need  skillful  and  wise  guidance  in 
what  to  read  and  how  to  read.  Not  only  is  it  important  that 
a taste  for  reading  be  stimulated,  but  a taste  for  the  best 
reading,  and  that  the  reading  habit  be  cultivated.  Pupils 
need  to  be  taught  how  to  use  books  in  connection  with  their 
school  studies,  to  compare  authorities,  to  weigh  evidence. 
Thus,  books  of  travels,  descriptive  of  countries,  peoples,  their 
customs  and  habits,  books  of  biography,  may  be  most  helpful 
in  the  study  of  Geography  and  History,  increasing  interest  in 
study,  widening  the  intelligence,  and  above  all  cultivating 
habits  of  thoughtful  study.  This  work  can  be  best  done  un- 
der the  direction  of  teachers. 


26 


In  some  such  way  this  free  public  library  and  reading  room 
may  become  a most  powerful  aid  to  popular  education,  in 
preparing  the  rising  and  future  generations  to  become  intelli- 
gent, patriotic  citizens  of  a free,  self-governing  republic. 

I close  with  an  incident  related  by  the  late,  lamented  Mat- 
thew Arnold,  of  his  visit  in  Boston. 

Mr.  Arnold  was  greatly  struck  by  this  democratic  govern- 
ment of  our  reading  room  when  he  was  in  Boston.  He  came 
in  here  one  day  and  saw  a little  barefooted  newsboy  sitting  in 
one  of  the  best  chairs  of  the  reading  room,  enjoying  himself 
apparently  for  dear  life.  The  great  essayist  was  completely 
astounded.  “Do  you  let  barefooted  boys  in  this  reading 
room?”  he  asked.  “You  would  never  see  such  a sight  as  that 
in  Europe.  I do  not  believe  there  is  a reading  room  in  all 
Europe  in  which  that  boy,  dressed  as  he  is,  would  enter.” 
Then  Mr.  Arnold  went  over  to  the  boy,  engaged  him  in  con- 
versation, and  found  that  he  was  reading  the  “Life  of  Wash- 
ington,” and  that  he  was  a young  gentleman  of  decidedly 
anti-British  tendencies,  and,  for  his  age,  remarkably  well  in- 
formed. 

Mr.  Arnold  remained  talking  with  the  youngster  for  some 
time,  and  as  he  came  back  to  our  desk  the  great  Englishman 
said:  “I  do  not  think  I have  been  so  impressed  with  anything 
else  that  I have  seen  since  arriving  in  this  country  as  1 am 
now  with  meeting  this  barefooted  boy  in  this  reading  room. 
What  a tribute  to  democratic  institutions  it  is  to  say  that  in- 
stead of  sending  that  boy  out  to  wander  alone  in.  the  streets, 
they  permit  him  to  come  in  here  and  excite  his  youthful  im- 
agination by  reading  such  a book  as  the  ‘Life  of  Washing- 
ton!’ The  reading  of  that  one  book  may  change  the  whole 
course  of  that  boy’s  life,  and  may  be  the  means  of  making 
him  a useful,  honorable,  worthy  citizen  of  this  great  country. 
It  is,  I tell  you,  a sight  that  impresses  a European  not  ac- 
customed to  your  democratic  ways.” 


PRESENTATION  ADDRESS. 


BY  HON.  G.  VAN  STEENWYK. 

Friends  and  Fellow-citizens,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

As  one  of  tlie  trustees  of  the  La  Crosse  Public  Library,  I 
feel  deeply  gratified  for  the  interest  which  you  manifest  by 
your  presence  on  the  solemn  occasion  of  the  dedication  of 
this  new  and,  as  we  trust,  well  adapted  building  and  library, 
which  we  owe  to  the  generous  bequest  of  our  late  friend  and 
townsman,  Governor  Cadwallader  C.  Washburn. 

Though  myself  desiring  to  say  something  befitting  the  place 
and  the  hour,  I am  well  aware,  that  the  duty  and  privilege  of 
addressing  you  might  have  been  left  by  the  trustees  entirely 
to  those  more  competent  and  experienced  in  addressing  large 
audiences;  but  my  personal  and  intimate  relations  to  our  de- 
ceased friend  and  benefactor  seemed  to  call  on  me,  to  offer  my 
well  meant,  though  inadequate  tribute  of  gratitude  to  his 
memory,  in  the  acknowledgement  of  his  great  services  to  his 
country  as  a citizen  and  a patriot  during  peace  and  during 
war;  as  an  active  and  liberal  promoter  of  education  and  sci- 
ence, and  as  a true,  warm-hearted  and  practical  philanthro- 
pist. I therefore,  fellow-citizens,  thankfully  accepted  the 
opportunity. 

Governor  Washburn  was  born  at  Livermore  in  the  State  of 
Maine,  on  the  22d  day  of  April,  1818,  and  was  the  fourth  son 
of  a large  family  of  children,  seven  sons  and  three  daughters, 
of  whom  three  sons  and  two  daughters  yet  survive. 


28 

The  Washbournes  or  Washbornes  are  the  descendants  of 
an  old,  well-known  and  prominent  English  family,  reaching 
back  by  extant  records  and  monuments  to  the  time  before 
William  the  Conqueror,  as  is  stated  by  Camden  in  his  cele- 
brated “Britannia.”  They  all  sprung  from  Worcestershire 
and  Gloucestershire  stock,  and  as  a recent  English  author, 
the  Bev.  Alex.  B.  Grosart,  says:  “It  were  easy  to  tell  of 
many  wise  and  brave,  gentle  and  fair  scions  of  this  illustrious 
house,”  and  he  adds  at  another  place,  “all  the  American 
Washburns  are  descendants  from  our  Wash  bourns.” 

Our  Livermore  Washburns  are  worthy  of  such  record. 
Though  born  and  brought  up  in  a small  country  town,  away 
north  in  the  Pine  Tree  State,  far  from  the  centres  of  modern 
progress  and  civilization,  the  care  of  a noble  mother  and  a 
father  worthy  of  the  blood  from  which  he  sprung,  gave  to  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  in  the  times  which  tried  men’s 
souls,  three  Washburns,  statesmen  and  patriots  of  the  most 
illustrious  of  this  great  nation,  Israel  of  Maine,  Elihu  B.  of 
Illinois  and  Cadwallader  C.,  of  Wisconsin,  a triumvirate, 
whose  counsel  and  advice  in  the  days  of  danger,  of  treason  and 
rebellion,  will  remain  noble  examples  for  future  generations. 

Israel,  at  a later  date  became  the  governor  of  his  native 
State;  Elihu  B.  was,  during  the  trying  times  of  the  Commune, 
the  ambassador  from  the  United  States  to  Paris,  where  in 
the  midst  of  scenes  of  fire  and  blood,  of  blind  furor  and  de- 
struction, he  protected  the  lives  of  thousands  upon  thousands 
under  the  broad  shield  of  the  great  Republic;  and  our  Cad- 
wallader C.  went  to  the  field  of  battle,  fought  bravely  and 
successfully  during  the  whole  of  the  w^ar,  and  returned,  after 
Lee’s  surrender,  covered  with  laurels,  as  Major  General  of 
Volunteers  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  to  his  adopted 
State,  Wisconsin;  which  honored  itself  by  sending  him  again 
repeatedly  to  the  halls  of  Congress,  and  ultimately  by  elect- 
ing him  Governor  of  our  Commonwealth, 


29 


It  is  with  reluctance,  that  I give  you  here  scarcely  more 
than  the  names  of  the  other  brothers:  Sidney,  an  honored 
citizen  and  a banker,  in  the  State  of  Maine,  where  he  died 
before  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion;  Sam- 
uel B.,  who  commanded,  during  the  war,  a steamer  of  the  U. 
S.  navy  on  the  Mississippi  river;  Charles  A.,  who  was  minis- 
ter of  the  United  States  in  the  South  American  Bepublic  of 
Paraguay;  and  last,  though  not  least;  William  D.,  who  has 
worthily,  the  youngest  of  them  all,  followed  in  the  footsteps 
of  the  illustrious  triumvirate,  by  serving  his  adopted  state, 
Minnesota,  repeatedly  with  signal  ability  in  the  halls  of  Con- 
gress, and  of  whom  more  yet  may  confidently  be  expected  in 
the  future. 

Such  were  the  seven  brothers;  and  the  sisters,  Mrs.  Steph- 
enson, of  St.  Paul,  Mrs.  Holmes,  of  Minneapolis  and  the  late 
Mrs.  Buffum,  of  Louisiana,  Missouri,  were  worthy  of  them 
and  of  the  best  type  of  American  womanhood. 

And  now,  my  friends  and  hearers,  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
look  over  the  whole  field  of  ancient  and  modern  history;  where 
do  you  find  the  equal,  where  do  you  find  the  parallel  of  such 
a family?  I never  could. 

But  Governor  C.  C.  Washburn  was  not  only  an  illustrious 
statesman  and  citizen-soldier,  he  was  also  an  eminently  sa- 
gacious, clear-minded,  far-seeing  business  man.  Our  sister 
State,  Minnesota,  more  than  to  any  other  man  or  men,  owes 
to  him  the  improvement  of  the  immense  water  power  of  the 
Mississippi  river  at  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony  and  the  build- 
ing up  of  the  marvelous  city  of  Minneapolis. 

And  our  State  of  Wisconsin,  his  adopted  State,  will  never, 
forget  while  history  records  its  wonderful  growth  and  devel- 
opment, what  it  owes  to  him  as  a business  man,  as  a citizen, 
soldier,  statesman,  promoter  of  education,  science  and  indus- 
try and  as  a philanthropist. 

Our  state  capitol,  Madison,  has  its  “Washburn  Astronomical 


30 


Observatory,”  one  of  the  prominent  and  best  equipped  in- 
stitutions of  this  kind,  built  under  his  own  care  and  super- 
vision, and  donated  to  the  State.  Two  of  its  directors,  Messrs. 
Watson  and  Holden  have  given  it  the  lustre  of  their  names  in 
the  scientific  world. 

It  has  also  in  “Edge wood,”  an  institution  devoted  to  the 
education  of  Catholic  children.  The  Governor,  though  him- 
self a devoted  and  liberal  Protestant,  generously  gave  his  late 
residence  with  its  beautiful  grounds  and  surroundings  for  the 
establishment  of  this  institution,  for  which  there  seemed  to 
him  to  be  urgent  demand. 

To  Minneapolis  he  gave  its  magnificent  Orphan  Asylum, 
dedicated  to  the  memory  of  his  well-beloved  and  venerated 
mother.  It  is  prominently  and  beautifully  situated  three  or 
four  miles  from  the  center  of  t lie  city,  surrounded  by  twenty 
acres  of  rolling  land,  hill  and  dale,  generously  contributed  by 
the  munificence  of  the  Governor’s  brother,  the  Hon.  W.  D. 
Washburn.  The  appointments  of  this  institution  are  excel- 
lently adapted  to  their  purposes  and  are  managed  by  its  able 
trustees  with  the  utmost  sympathy  and  care.  The  institution 
is  entirely*  cosmopolitan.  All  are  welcome,  who  are  deprived 
of  the  fostering  care  of  parents  and  friends,  without  distinc- 
tion of  sect  or  creed  or  nationality. 

And  here  in  our  own  city,  we  dedicate  to-night  “The  La 
Crosse  Public  Library,”  for  now  and  forever  to  the  use  of  our 
people,  on  the  same  broad  ground  for  the  use  of  all;  and  we 
hope  and  trust  that  it  will  become  and  remain,  for  this  and 
for  future  generations,  a substantial  means  for  imparting  use- 
ful assistance  in  the  acquisition  of  valuable  knowledge  in  sci- 
ence and  art,  and  in  the  promotion  of  such  education,  as  will 
make  virtuous,  noble  and  enlightened  citizens. 

Governor  Washburn  says  in  the  10th  section  of  his  last  will 
and  testament:  “It  is  my  intention  during  my  lifetime  to 
found  a library  in  the  city  of  La  Crosse,  in  the  State  of  Wis- 


consin,  to  be  called  ‘The  La  Crosse  Public  Library’,  and  to 
endow  the  same  on  a scale,  as  I conceive,  suitable  to  the  pres- 
ent size  and  prospective  growth  of  the  city.  If  I fail  to  ac- 
complish this  object  in  my  lifetime,  I appoint  the  seven  per- 
sons below  named  to  carry  my  intentions  into  effect,  to-wit: 
the  Mayor  of  La  Crosse,  ex-officio  Trustee  and  Chairman  of 
the  Board,  G.  VanSteenwyk,  Joseph  Clarke,  Frederick  A. 
Copeland,  Theodore  Rodolf,  J.  M.  Holley  and  C.  L.  Colman. 

It  is  my  intention  to  spend  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  this 
purpose,  and  so  much  thereof  as  I may  not  have  expended 
during  my  lifetime,  I direct  my  executors  to  pay  over  to  said 
trustees.” 

It  was  not  vouchsafed  to  the  testator,  to  execute  in  person 
his  intention  either  in  whole  or  in  part,  but  it  was  left  to  his 
executors  to  pay  over  the  whole  of  the  bequest  to  the  tr  ustees 
as  soon  as  the  settlement  of  affairs  of  the  estate  permitted  the 
same,  and  it  was  done  accordingly. 

The  duties  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  (which  in  the  mean 
time  had  been  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  State,  and  as 
directed  by  the  will)  then  actively  commenced.  Lots  were  se- 
lected and  purchased;  the  handsome  structure,  in  which  we  now 
celebrate  our  dedicatory  services,  was  commenced  and  car- 
ried through  to  completion;  a selection  of  classical  and  stan- 
dard works  was  carefully  made  and  its  purchase  as  the  nu- 
cleus of  the  “La  Crosse  Public  Library,”  completed;  and  the 
remaining  funds  were  safely  and  profitably  invested  as  a 
permanent  fund,  as  directed  by  the  testator. 

While  the  work  of  the  trustees  was  thus  carried  on,  the  di- 
rectors of  the  “Young  Men’s  Library  Association,”  an  institu- 
tion, as  most  of  you  are  aware,  which  for  about  a quarter  of  a 
century  has  been  a chief  resource  of  literary  information  (by 
means  of  its  valuable  library  and  lecture  course,)  concluded 
that  it  would  be  a wise  measure,  in  view  of  the  public  interest, 
to  sell  their  whole  library  of  five  thousand  volumes  of  well- 


selected  and  of  miscellaneous  literature  to  the  “La  Crosse 
Public  Library,”  thereby  concentrating  the  entire  interest  of 
the  whole  community,  and  most  emphatically  promoting  the 
Vis  Unit  a Fortior”  or  “In  union  there  is  strength.”  The 
plan  was  approved  in  a meeting  held  for  the  purpose  by  the 
members  of  the  Association,  and  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
La  Crosse  Public  Library  made  the  purchase  for  five  thous- 
and dollars. 

But  thus  far,  my  hearers,  only  one-lialf  of  the  generous  in- 
tention of  the  Young  Men’s  Library  Association  has  been 
told.  As  soon  as  sale  and  purchase  were  completed,  the  Di- 
rectors of  the  Association  in  a largely  attended  meeting  of  its 
members  proposed  to  complete  the  objects  in  view,  and  to 
donate  all  of  the  purchase  money,  all  their  cash  funds  on 
hand,  amounting  to  about  two  thousand  dollars  more,  and  the 
whole  of  their  library  furniture  to  our  institution.  This  plan 
which  was  generally  understood,  was  submitted  to  vote  and 
all  but  unanimously  adopted. 

The  trustees  are  profoundly  thanktul  to  the  donors,  and 
tender  their  grateful  acknowledgments  to  the  late  Young 
Men’s  Library  Association,  not  for  their  munificent  gift  only, 
but  for  the  worthy  example  they  have  set  to  all  who  may  be 
able  in  the  future  to  contribute  by  works  of  literature  and 
art,  antique  and  modern,  to  the  growth,  beaut)'  and  useful- 
ness of  our  library,  and  in  the  course  of  time  to  a Museum  of 
Art,  History  and  Antiquity,  worthily  connected  with  it. 

And  noAv  permit  me  to  quote  some,  in  my  opinion,  eminent- 
ly appropriate  remarks  from  the  address  of  the  Hon.  William 
S.  Shurtleff,  at  the  dedication  of  the  Wallace  Library,  Fitch- 
burg, Massachusetts,  July  1,  1885. 

Speaking  of  the  library,  he  says:  “Here  will  come  the 
searchers  for  knowledge  and  they  will  be  supplied,  and  they 
will  go  hence  to  spread  what  they  here  acquired  far  and 
wide.  Here  the  lovers  of  song  and  the  born  singers  will  come 


33 


to  school  and  with  lyre  and  lute  attuned  will  go  forth  to  sing 
new  and  perhaps  sweeter  songs  to  the  world. 

“Here  the  votaries  of  science  will  come  for  research,  and,  de- 
ducing new  corollaries  from  the  solved  problems  of  the  past, 
make  new  departures  towards  still  more  wonderful  unexplored 
domains.  Here  the  theologian  will  come  to  trace  the  paths  of 
philosophy  and  spiritual  science  and  learn  to  eliminate  er- 
rors and  elucidate  truths.” 

“Good  books”  he  goes  on  to  say,  “are  the  best  of  benefac- 
tors, bad  books  the  worst  of  malefactors  to  mankind.” 

“The  market  is  full  of  trash,  but  none  must  find  its  way 
within  the  portals  of  this  library.  It  is  time  for  the  establish- 
ing of  a severer  censorship  for  books  that  seek  admission  to 
public  libraries.  None  should  be  placed  on  the  shelves  ex- 
cept such  as  are  of  value  for  study,  culture,  reference  or 
healthful  recreation.  No  building  is  large  enough  to  contain 
all  the  good  books,  and  there  is  no  room  in  any  to  afford  space 
for  the  bad  or  worthless. 

“From  here  will  go  forth  preachers  and  poets,  orators 
and  scientists  to  teach  truth  to  error,  if  the  trustees,  who  are 
to  carry  on  this  great  work,  shall  be  always  as  judicious,  as 
its  founder  and  benefactors  have  been  generous .” 

It  has  been,  ladies  avnd  gentlemen,  the  privilege  of  all  the 
trustees  appointed  by  Governor  Washburn  in  his  last  will 
and  testament,  though  one  or  two  of  them  exceed  in  age  the 
period  of  life  usually  allotted  to  man,  to  co-operate  actively 
in  the  establishment  and  construction  of  this  beautiful  build- 
ing, and  (for  its  present  size)  well  appointed  library ; and  I 
trust  that  the  well-considered  lessons,  inculcated  by  the  gen- 
tleman above  quoted,  have  been  steadily  before  our  minds’ 
eyes,  and  will  be  a guide  to  us  and  our  successors  in  the  future. 

I am  profoundly  thankful  to  a kind  Providence,  and  my 
fellow- trustees  doubtless  fully  share  the  sentiment  with  me, 
that  we  all  have  been  permitted  to  perform  our  task,  as  we  be- 


lieve,  faithfully  and  creditably  so  far;  I congratulate  you  all 
for-  what  has  been  accomplished  to  realize  the  intentions  of 
our  benefactor.  I hope  that  all  of  us,  and  our  children  with 
us  and  after  us,  will  reap  abundant  benefits  from  this  noble 
institution  and  I now  announce  to  our  Mayor,  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  all  our  citizens,  and  declare  “The  La  Crosse  Pub- 
lic Library”  opened  and  dedicated  to  the  use  of  our  people. 


ACCEPTANCE  ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  PUBLIC, 


BY  MAYOR  DAVID  AUSTIN. 


Honored  Sir:— As  an  executor  and  intimate  friend  of  the 
late  Governor  Washburn,  it  is  indeed  eminently  fitting  that 
you  should  this  day,  in  accordance  with  his  will,  tender  to 
the  people  of  La  Crosse,  for  their  use,  this  beautiful  building 
and  its  valuable  contents. 

Upon  the  sides  of  that  tall  monument  in  yonder  cemetery, 
is  carved  in  simple  words,  the  testimony  that  he  who  sleeps 
beneath,  was,  during  life,  a legislator  in  the  halls  of  Congress, 
a soldier  in  our  country’s  need,  and  was  by  the  expressed  wish 
of  its  citizens  made  Governor  of  this  great  State;  indeed  had 
very  nearly  reached  the  summit  of  American  ambition. 

And  yet,  here  in  this  library  building  and  books  contained 
therein,  the  free  use  of  which  he  has  bequeathed  to  the  peo- 
ple of  La  Crosse  forever,  is  reared  another  monument  which 
will  commemorate  the  name  and  worthy  deeds  of  Cadwallader 
C.  Washburn  far  into  the  future. 


36 


But  it  is  useless  for  me  to  try  to  convey  our  thanks  in 
words,  as  words  are  wholly  inadequate  to  express  our  heart- 
felt gratitude  for  this  valuable  gift  to  our  people.  But  in  ac- 
cepting this  trust  for  our  citizens,  which  is  not  only  designed 
for  the  present,  but  for  generations  yet  unborn,  we  fully  real- 
ize the  duties  and  responsibilities  incumbent  on  the  Board  of 
Trustees;  and  should  they  be  able  to  so  manage  the  affairs  of 
this  library,  as  to  reasonably  comply  with  the  wishes  and  ex- 
pectations of  the  generous  donors  we  are  sure  that  great  good 
will  forever  flow  out  among  our  people. 

And  to  the  citizens  of  La  Crosse,  I would  say,  that  here  is 
presented  to  us  for  all  time,  the  use  of  this  beautiful  edifice 
with  its  valuable  collection  of  books,  containing  many  of  the 
best  thoughts  of  this  and  past  ages;  and  that  a careful  and 
competent  committee  has  seen  that  no  objectionable  books 
have  been  placed  upon  the  shelves. 

And  in  accepting  this  trust,  we  must  see  that  no  debasing 
works  shall  ever  enter  its  portals,  and  it  shall  be  our  duty  to 
hand  it  over  in  all  its  purity,  to  those  who  follow  us. 

And  now,  Sir,  in  the  name,  and  in  behalf  of  the  people  of 
La  Crosse  I accept  the  use  of  this  priceless  gift,  which  you 
have  so  eloquently  tendered  in  the  name  of  its  beneficent 
donors. 


THE  LA  CROSSE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY. 


PLAN  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  BUILDING. 


The  La  Crosse  Public  Library  is  situated  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Main  and  Eighth  streets  and  fronts  the  north. 
The  site  is  excellent,  being  upon  principal  streets  and  near 
the  line  where  business  blocks  and  residences  meet,  yet  with- 
in the  territory  of  the  latter.  It  is  convenient  of  access  from 
all  quarters  and  as  nearly  central  to  population  as  any  avail- 
able location  the  city  affords.  Its  immediate  surroundings 
are  schools,  churches  and  parks;  the  nearest  buildings  are 
two  dwelling  houses  belonging  to  the  library  and  forming 
part  of  the  permanent  investment  for  maintenance.  It  is 
the  hope  and  expectation  of  the  trustees  that  the  time  will 
not  be  long  delayed  when  these  buildings  may  be  removed  to 
make  room  for  such  enlargements  of  the  library  as  will  be 
demanded  by  the  increase  of  books,  the  accumulation  of  art 
works  and  articles  of  historical  or  scientific  interest,  and  es- 
pecially by  the  growth  of  education  and  culture  in  the  com- 
munity. The  site  is  ample  for  such  enlargement,  being  155 
by  135  feet,  while  the  total  exterior  dimensions  of  the  build- 
ing are  56  by  75  feet. 

Architecturally  the  library  is  of  the  composite  order  com- 
monly described  as  the  modern  Romanesque.  The  materials 
are  red  pressed  brick  and  terra  cotta  with  limestone  founda- 


40 


tion.  The  conspicuous  exterior  features  are  the  pointed 
round  tower  rising  ninety -two  feet,  deeply  recessed  entrance, 
and  semi-circular  windows  of  plain  and  colored  glass.  In  the 
apex  of  the  north  gable,  a terra  cotta  tablet  bears  the  inscrip- 
tion, “La  Crosse  Public  Library,  1888.”  The  roof  is  of  slate. 

There  is  but  one  entrance,  the  doors  opening  through  a 
vestibule  into  a commodious  tile-floored  hall.  The  stairway 
to  the  upper  floor,  winding  through  the  tower,  opens  on  the 
right,  while  the  basement  stairway  and  entrance  to  the  book 
exchange  room  are  on  the  left.  Upon  the  wall  opposite  the 
entrance  has  been  placed  the  memorial  tablet  elsewhere  il- 
lustrated. The  hall  is  principally  lighted  by  a circular  west 
window  of  stained  glass  back  of  the  tower. 

The  book  exchange  room  occupies  the  center  of  the  build- 
ing; in  front,  separated  by  a glass  partition,  is  the  general  read- 
ing room  and  the  reference  library;  at  the  west  end,  the  trus- 
tees’ room.  This  apartment  and  the  smaller  reading  room 
are  carpeted  with  body  brussels,  well  furnished  and  supplied 
with  open  grates  and  handsome  cherry  mantels.  The  general 
reading  room  is  carpeted,  and  the  book  exchange  and  refer- 
ence room  floors  covered  with  linoleum. 

The  book  room  is  a one-story  apartment  at  the  rear,  enter- 
ed through  double  iron  doors  and  proof  against  ordinary 
dangers  from  fire.  It  is  provided  with  continuous  shelving 
around  the  wall,  and  sections  arranged  at  right  angles  to  a 
center  aisle.  Numerous  square  windows  on  three  sides  above 
the  shelving  give  ample  light  by  day  and  electric  lamps  sus- 
pended in  every  aisle,  by  night. 

The  dimensions  of  these  various  apartments  are:  Book  ex- 
change room  19  by  28;  general  reading  room  18  by  27;  pri- 
vate reading  room  14  by  14;  trustees’  office  13  by  14;  refer- 
ence room  12  by  14;  book  room  28  by  35. 

The  upper  floor  is  occupied  by  Library  Hall,  a handsome 
audience  room  56  by  32,  seated  with  300  chairs.  Its  notable 


architectural  features  are  its  heavy,  exposed  timbers  sustain- 
ing the  roof  to  which  the  ceiling  conforms,  and  the  large 
semi-circular  windows  on  three  sides.  An  elaborate  combina- 
tion gas  and  electric  chandelier  is  suspended  from  the  ceiling 
and  numerous  bracket  lamps  are  affixed  to  the  walls,  lighting 
the  room  amply. 

The  trustees  regard  this  hall  less  as  a source  of  revenue 
than  as  a means  of  encouraging  the  highest  class  of  literary 
and  musical  entertainments,  to  which  its  use  is  restricted. 
Occupancy  of  the  hall  in  no  way  disturbs  the  ordinary  busi- 
ness of  the  library  and  its  location  and  capacity  seem  to  give 
it  a special  fitness  for  such  entertainments  as  may  be  ad- 
mitted. 

The  building  is  heated  by  two  coal  furnaces  in  the  base- 
ment, and  lighted  by  electricity  but  is  also  piped  for  gas  and 
the  combination  fixtures  admit  of  either  manner  of  lighting. 
There  are  toilet  rooms  on  the  main  and  basement  floors  and 
in  the  basement  a work  room  and  ample  space  for  the  storage 
of  fuel. 

The  library  comprises  in  round  numbers  ten  thousand  vol- 
umes. It  is  one  of  the  accredited  depositories  of  government 
publications  and  receives  everything  of  this  class  issued. 
The  " tubers  of  such  volumes  now  on  the  shelves  not  classi- 
fied is  •' )0,  and  of  books  issued  by  the  state  about  120. 

The  refer  ice  library  contains  1050  volumes,  of  which  106 
are  encyclopedias,  83  dictionaries,  404  general  reference  and 
428  bound  periodicals.  In  the  latter  department  will  be 
found  files  of  local  papers  from  1868  to  date  and  the  leading 
American  magazines.  The  room  also  contains  a number  of 
finely  illustrated  and  costly  works  descriptive  of  art,  archi- 
tecture and  scenery  in  different  lands,  and  such  a range  of 
volumes  as  will  meet  all  ordinary  demands  of  the  student  or 
general  reader. 


42 


Deducting  these  two  departments  from  the  total,  there  re- 
main about  7500  volumes  for  circulation.  These  are  divided 
in  the  following  general  classes:  Art,  Biography,  Drama, 
Essays,  Fiction,  History,  Literature,  Philology,  Philosophy, 
Poetry,  Science,  Sociology,  Theology  and  Travels. 

The  department  of  Art  contains  611  volumes,  Biography 
699,  Drama  148,  History  826,  Science,  450,  Sociology.  553, 
Theology  366  and  Travels  360.  The  other  departments  are 
equally  well  supplied.  It  has  been  the  constant  aim  of  the 
Library  Committee  in  purchasing  books,  to  cover  the  widest 
possible  range  of  topics  in  order  to  make  the  institution  of 
universal  benefit  at  the  outset,  leaving  to  future  accretions  the 
work  of  making  complete  collections  upon  special  lines.  The 
test  of  use  is  daily  proving  the  value  of  their  careful  and  in- 
telligent work,  which  the  trustees  desire  gratefully  to  ac- 
knowledge. 

The  library  is  classified  according  to  the  Dewey  system; 
Mrs.  M.  E.  Dixson  had  supervision  of  this  work,  assisted  by 
the  librarian  Miss  A.  E.  Hanscome.  The  rooms  are  open 
every  day  except  Sunday  from  2:00  to  6:00  and  from  7:00  to 
9:00  p.  m.  The  library  is  entirely  free  to  all  citizens  of  the 
age  of  fourteen  or  upwards,  with  suitable  provision  for  use 
by  strangers  or  people  living  outside  the  city. 


OFFICERS  AND  COMMITTEES. 


TRUSTEES. 


Mayor  David  Austin,  - 
G.  Van  Steenwyk, 

F.  A.  Copeland,  - 

John  M.  Holley,  - 

Joseph  Clarke.  C.  L.  Colman, 


President  ex-Officio. 
Vice  President 
Treasurer. 
Secretary. 
Theo.  Rodolf. 


COMMITTEES. 

BUILDINGS  AND  GROUNDS: 

F.  A.  Copeland,  Theo.  Rodolf  and  David  Austin. 

LIBRARY: 

G.  Van  Steenwyk,  Joseph  Clarke,  J.  M.  Holley, 

G.  M.  Woodward  and  W.  L.  Osborne. 

FINANCE: 

C.  L.  Colman,  J.  M.  Holley  and  Joseph  Clarke. 


Librarian: — A.  E.  Hanscome. 


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